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Grittyville, WA

Whats the largest grown without kelp? Willemijns? Trying to figure out where to spend money. Its good for plant health but is kelp really an essential part of getting top weights... thx!

1/9/2019 1:57:23 PM

Grittyville, WA

I have a feeling the people who can afford kelp get a thousand a pound for what they grow. I am drawing the line at kelp!
Unless a top grower who is not selling it lets me know that it really is a must-have for pumpkins. Help a lowly 795.5 pb grower out here!

1/9/2019 4:59:07 PM

Plainville, Connecticut 06062

Get your hands on the December winter issue by the SNGPG and read how Steve Geddes grew his 2528. When you are done, I believe you will be quite shocked and scratching your head! Products that were almost written in stone must haves for growing weren’t used but it did not prevent Steve from growing a monster. I think even though Atlantic Giants are big feeders you can also over do it which in turn will help you get in the big column of blowing them up with other problems along the way. Read the article please it will get you to thinking a little different and just might ease your pain in the wallet department!

1/9/2019 5:54:50 PM

Grittyville, WA

Let me say the sharing by the top growers in the sngpg newsletter is great. There are lots of info and hints which are going to advance growing as a whole... Big thanks to all the growers who shared their info!
About the Geddes article... it mentions Kelp Mag. I am in the dark about whether thats just a typo... Top of the second page. Lol?? Maybe this meant kelp or Cal Mag ...Thanks. I was most impressed by his statement that he has used the same sandy soil for ten years. There is no conventional wisdom that says you can do that...
Yes I would rather reach 2k in lbs before I reach 2k in dollars... About 500 so far.

1/9/2019 7:06:07 PM

Grittyville, WA

If you used a lot of kelp and it really helped you please comment or email me. Thanks pooh-bear for the suggestion that there may be good alternatives.

1/9/2019 7:52:00 PM

Grittyville, WA

If you used a lot of kelp and it really helped you please comment or email me. Thanks pooh-bear for the suggestion that there may be good alternatives.

1/9/2019 7:52:34 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

There are no short cuts or cheap ways to grow the big boys....

1/9/2019 8:29:10 PM

Lebanon, Oregon

A 40 lb bag of kelp powder at the local farm store runs $60-70.

1/9/2019 11:46:56 PM

Grittyville, WA

Well I wont ask anyone to share all their info but I grew 2400 lb of pumpkins out of a $100 dump load of goat manure and 50 bucks worth of miracle grow. If I had done the prunning right I believe I could have hit 1500 anyhow. 1500 on about $150 works for me... We'll see what $600 can do. You know where I am at. I dont know much about where you all are at but I enjoy doing things cheap. The best things are sometimes cheap. If you check out my diary the cover i made for my 795.5 plant cost about $2 and worked great.

1/9/2019 11:51:50 PM

Grittyville, WA

I get what you are saying Linus. I shouldnt get defensive I just dont want you to think I am not putting serious effort into my growing... I really am... Cutting costs while boosting results takes a lot of thoughtful consideration... Its actually no picnic... Just so we are clear.

Quote of the day: 'It's not wise to be foolish.'

1/10/2019 12:46:25 AM

Team Canuckle Heads

https://www.gardenerspantry.ca/humic-acids.html

1/11/2019 6:45:24 PM

Grittyville, WA

Kelp Mag should be K Mag according to someone who would know.

I got a couple replies and Im back on track now, I think. Thanks, I could never learn as much as I want to know, by myself.

1/12/2019 2:52:18 AM

Torrance, Ca.

Yup, find " ONE " good mentor, follow his or her steps and you'll be on you way to growing the biggest pumpkin you can from your area! Everyone grows different and there's so many ways to grow a big one.
I was taught to use kelp ( sea-com ) every 6 to 7 days,,, no sooner. There's other growers using it every day with great success.

Keep at it and good things will happen this summer!

1/12/2019 6:50:36 AM

Sonora, CA

Is it Kelp powder, Kelp Meal, or?

1/12/2019 11:03:42 PM

Grittyville, WA

As far as I know the soluble is more expensive but either way you are getting about the same value because its more potent vs the animal feed which is more dilute. I've never used either product though. Since I have no personal experience I wont try to guess which product is best or the best way to apply it. The npk of the soluble is 5x higher and its about 10x more expensive... Wish I knew more.

1/13/2019 1:39:45 AM

Grittyville, WA

Whats the biggest pumpkin grown without kelp? I lost track of the Willemijns interview. He remember he was into the chemical ferts. I dont remember about his use of kelp. If someone does, it would really help.

1/13/2019 1:45:46 AM

Grittyville, WA

I am sure I am as confused as anyone. Kelp Mag doesnt exist. K Mag is potassium and magnesium. CarlaSue, Perhaps I do not understand what you mean?

1/13/2019 2:01:27 AM

Grittyville, WA

Please email me if I can possibly answer your question better, thanks.

1/13/2019 2:07:18 AM

Morgantown, WV

Yes Carla, soluble Kelp powder is the same thing as kelp meal, but it is processed to a finer grain size that will essentially immediately rehydrate small particles in a suspension rather than dissolving a freeze dried version like instant coffee. It is typically more expensive than kelp meal simply because of the additional processing that is done.

The benefit that you receive with the soluble form over the chunky form is that it is more readily available and you get more even distribution through the soil profile due to the increased surface area of the smaller particles. Roots will find more particles from a bag of sand than a bag of oranges over the same square footage, if that makes sense? Additionally, the smaller particle size is much more easily accessible to many more microbes because they're not waiting for the exterior of the larger chunks to be eaten away before the inner core can be gotten to.

The studies I have read about Ascophyllum nodosum (the kelp considered to be king) is that its benefits last about 14-21 days if applied in granular form before it is digested by the soil life. This would suggest that if you want a boost in the spring, granular should be ok in planting holes, but if you want the benefits of it to be on-hand throughout the season, soluble kelp is a reliable way to give concentrated doses of it on a regular schedule to keep growth more consistent.

So-Cal's comment about usage every 6-7 days is what I have heard mostly using this product, so I agree with him there. I would imagine, the growers using daily have taken that once weekly dose, and split it by seven, to be worked into a "spoon feeding" program where you calculate your overall nutrient usage for the season basically down to the days so that again, a more consistent growth curve is achieved rather than a weekly or bi-weekly surge of growth followed by a slight taper off. Daily doses don't fit my schedule so I stick with the weekly game.

Hope it helps a

1/13/2019 7:12:04 AM

Morgantown, WV

little

1/13/2019 7:14:03 AM

kelp meal npk is apr. 1-.5-2.5
concentrated kelp can be 1-4-14 with k being higher sometimes.
Take the npk into consideration.

1/13/2019 2:16:12 PM

Sonora, CA

Wow—thanks Dustin. So, soluble kelp is recommended on a weekly basis over using granular.? I bought the December issue talked about above and was very intrigued with the articles. This year will be my third year and am reading and learning from those who have been at this addictive hobby for years. Chris and Cecil have been wonderful mentors. I just soak up all I can from this unselfish pumpkin community.

1/23/2019 12:20:11 AM